The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

When fifth-grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and
seventh-grader Marshall Walsh cut through the woods to avoid school bully Chad
Hilligas, they unwittingly set off a chain of events that threatens global
catastrophe.

What exactly is that pool of mud
that Tamaya notices in the woods—gooey, tarlike muck with a sheen of fuzzy,
yellow-brown scum on top? Whatever it is, it comes in handy when Chad attacks
Tamaya and Marshall, and Tamaya scoops up a handful and shoves it into his
face. But that evening, she notices a terrible rash on her hands, and Chad
doesn’t show up for school the next day. Revealed in interspersed testimony
from secret Senate hearings is the fact that scientists have been researching
Biolene, a viable alternative to gasoline using artificial, high-energy
microorganisms. The threat of mutations and “frankengerms” had been considered
negligible, but now a walk in the woods has led to the quarantine of the whole
Pennsylvania town as an epidemic has spread, the airport and railroad stations
have been closed, and the Pennsylvania National Guard has been called in. Sachar’s
tale is slim, as is the delineation of character and setting, but the
fast-paced plot and enough science to give the illusion of substance will have
readers racing through the pages.

An exciting story of school life,
friends, and bullies that becomes a quick meditation on the promise and dangers
of modern science. (Speculative fiction. 8-12)

INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS SACHAR

“I just wanted to write a scary story,” says celebrated children’s author Louis Sachar, “and I came up with Fuzzy Mud. I really cannot remember where the idea of that mud came from, though I know I was thinking in terms of old-fashioned horrors, something like The Blob, when ...

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.